Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing.
Use the following two words in one sentence (note the parts of speech).
abdicate (verb) and democracy (noun).
The site also has word games and puzzles.
Friday, April 10, 2015
SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS
We can describe a general agreement as sustenance.
Provide a synonym and an antonym for this word. Each participant should suggest a different word.
Provide a synonym and an antonym for this word. Each participant should suggest a different word.
*ACTIVE vs. PASSIVE*
Write two sentences using the word take.
In the first sentence, use the word in the active voice; in the second sentence, use it in the passive voice.
*TIME CHANGE*
Change the time in the following sentences by using a different verb tense and replacing any necessary time clues. Each student should choose a different verb tense.
Easter came and went very quickly; even though it was a holiday, I was kept busy with work around the house.
Easter came and went very quickly; even though it was a holiday, I was kept busy with work around the house.
*SENTENCE COMBINATION*
Learning to combine ideas into more complex sentences is an important writing skill. There are many ways to do this. Try to combine the following three sentences.
Sentence 1:
Sentence 2:
Sentence 3: This winter has seemed longer than most, with snow still on the ground in many places.
Sentence 3: This winter has seemed longer than most, with snow still on the ground in many places.
BUILD-A-SENTENCE
Write a sentence using the vocabulary and grammar indicated.
Write a sentence using a dependent clause in the past perfect tense and an independent clause in the simple past tense.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
WELCOME!
Welcome to the Effective Writing Blog for ENGL 155, 177 and 189. These courses may be taken separately or as part of the English Language Proficiency Program. The goal is to increase the level of communication between students and instructors, and to provide students with an opportunity to communicate with each other and to practice the grammar and mechanics taught in these courses. If you post general questions about the assignments or the course, they will be addressed in the blog. If you have detailed questions you want answered, then e-mail your instructor.
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WELCOME NEW STUDENTS!
A hearty welcome to all the new students joining this course. We hope you enjoy your studies and have fun participating in this blog.
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Also, be sure to let your tutors know the nickname you have chosen for this blog; otherwise, they will not be able to give you the bonus marks that you have earned for your participation.
Also, be sure to let your tutors know the nickname you have chosen for this blog; otherwise, they will not be able to give you the bonus marks that you have earned for your participation.
Next blog: Friday, April 10, 2015.
PREVIOUS GRAMMAR QUESTION
There were to much peoples at the mall so I was hurried up shopping, I was too hurried that the shirt’s I bought's not big enough and I'm having to return them.
1. Word confusion:
We need to use “too” (not “to”) as an intensifier.
2. Modifier use:
“Much” is used to modify uncountable nouns. Since “people” is countable, you should use “many”.
3. Plural form:
“People” is already plural (unless you are referring to something like a racial group), so it doesn’t need to be pluralized again.
4. Passive or active voice:
Do not use the passive form (“was hurried”) unless you mean to suggest that something was causing the speaker to be hurried. In this situation, use the active voice.
4. Modifier use:
To convey the extent of the modifier, use “so” (not “too”)
5. Apostrophe error:
“Shirts” is plural, not possessive, so there is no apostrophe. “Bought” is the past tense of “buy”, so it should never have an “s” or an apostrophe.
6. Subject-verb agreement:
Since ‘shirts’ is plural, you need the plural form of the verb (“are”).
7. Verb tense:
The present progressive (“am having”) would indicate that the action is happening now. It’s better to use the simple present tense (“have”) or the simple future (“will have”).
8. Punctuation:
When a coordinating conjunction such as ‘so’ separates two independent clauses, use a comma before it. When there is no coordinating conjunction, you need a period or (if the ideas are very closely related) a semicolon.
Suggested solution:
There were too many people in the mall, so I hurried with my shopping; I was in such a hurry that the shirts I bought are not big enough, and I will have to return them.
1. Word confusion:
We need to use “too” (not “to”) as an intensifier.
2. Modifier use:
“Much” is used to modify uncountable nouns. Since “people” is countable, you should use “many”.
3. Plural form:
“People” is already plural (unless you are referring to something like a racial group), so it doesn’t need to be pluralized again.
4. Passive or active voice:
Do not use the passive form (“was hurried”) unless you mean to suggest that something was causing the speaker to be hurried. In this situation, use the active voice.
4. Modifier use:
To convey the extent of the modifier, use “so” (not “too”)
5. Apostrophe error:
“Shirts” is plural, not possessive, so there is no apostrophe. “Bought” is the past tense of “buy”, so it should never have an “s” or an apostrophe.
6. Subject-verb agreement:
Since ‘shirts’ is plural, you need the plural form of the verb (“are”).
7. Verb tense:
The present progressive (“am having”) would indicate that the action is happening now. It’s better to use the simple present tense (“have”) or the simple future (“will have”).
8. Punctuation:
When a coordinating conjunction such as ‘so’ separates two independent clauses, use a comma before it. When there is no coordinating conjunction, you need a period or (if the ideas are very closely related) a semicolon.
Suggested solution:
There were too many people in the mall, so I hurried with my shopping; I was in such a hurry that the shirts I bought are not big enough, and I will have to return them.
*GRAMMAR QUESTION*
Correct the errors in the following sentence:
The solution will be posted in the next edition of the blog.
The commentator said its the most unique program was skated at the competition and they are skating unbelievable therefore it hasn't been surprised that the audience have given them the standing ovation.
PUZZLE
Solution to the previous puzzle:
o … honor (o/or/nor/horn/honor)
i … detail (i/id/lid/idle/ideal/detail)
i … elation (i/it/lit/lint/latin/latino/elation)
Other answers were possible.
New Puzzle:
Each of the following words contains a shorter word with the same meaning.
Example: "rapscallion" contains the word "rascal": RApSCALlion
See if you can find the words hidden below:
1. prosecute
2. scoundrel
3. falsities
4. stockings
5. pantaloons
6. brackets
*Note, the first person with the correct answer gets the bonus point.
o … honor (o/or/nor/horn/honor)
i … detail (i/id/lid/idle/ideal/detail)
i … elation (i/it/lit/lint/latin/latino/elation)
Other answers were possible.
New Puzzle:
Each of the following words contains a shorter word with the same meaning.
Example: "rapscallion" contains the word "rascal": RApSCALlion
See if you can find the words hidden below:
1. prosecute
2. scoundrel
3. falsities
4. stockings
5. pantaloons
6. brackets
*Note, the first person with the correct answer gets the bonus point.
IDIOMS
There are three idioms that use the word bee:
Try not to use the same idiom as the other posters.
Watch this video, and then write a sentence that uses one (or more) of these three idioms.
Try not to use the same idiom as the other posters.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theteacher/2009/03/090311_teacher_animal_bee.shtml
*ALL CHANGE!*
Change the words in the following sentence as indicated.
Please change only the exact word in the sequence given. Each participant should build on the changes made by the previous participant.
For instance, Participant 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Participant 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes the direct object noun, etc.
You are free to make as many changes as you wish. Just remember to number each change (and indicate the part of speech) so it is clear to everyone where we are on the list.
When all 7 changes have been made, return to the top of the list and continue.
Changes:
1. subject noun
2. direct object noun
3. indirect object noun
4. adjective(s)
5. adverb(s)
6. verb name
7. verb tense
The angry teacher gave her naughty pupil extra homework as punishment for disrupting her class..
For instance, Participant 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Participant 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes the direct object noun, etc.
You are free to make as many changes as you wish. Just remember to number each change (and indicate the part of speech) so it is clear to everyone where we are on the list.
When all 7 changes have been made, return to the top of the list and continue.
Changes:
1. subject noun
2. direct object noun
3. indirect object noun
4. adjective(s)
5. adverb(s)
6. verb name
7. verb tense
AFFIXES
The word stem -com- or -con- (meaning "together") occurs in many words.
Add an affix (either a prefix or a suffix) to this stem to make another word.
Each participant should add a different word to the list.
Add an affix (either a prefix or a suffix) to this stem to make another word.
Each participant should add a different word to the list.
*COMPLETE THE SENTENCE*
Follow the instructions below to create three different sentences from the following clause:*
Sentence 1. Add a phrase
Sentence 2. Add a dependent clause
Sentence 3. Add an independent clause
*Add your words to the beginning or end of the clause (but not both).
… There's no time like the present …
Sentence 2. Add a dependent clause
Sentence 3. Add an independent clause
*Add your words to the beginning or end of the clause (but not both).
*NUMBER CHANGE*
If the sentence is singular, change it to the plural; if it is plural, change it to the singular.
The little boy is going on an Easter Egg hunt with his older brother and sister, but he needs to be quick if he wants to find more than just a few eggs, for the other children have had a lot more practice.
The little boy is going on an Easter Egg hunt with his older brother and sister, but he needs to be quick if he wants to find more than just a few eggs, for the other children have had a lot more practice.
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing.
Use the following two words in one sentence (note the parts of speech).
credentials (noun) and jurisdiction (noun).
The site also has word games and puzzles.
SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS
We can describe a general agreement as consensus.
Provide a synonym and an antonym for this word. Each participant should suggest a different word.
Provide a synonym and an antonym for this word. Each participant should suggest a different word.
*ACTIVE vs. PASSIVE*
Write two sentences using the word eat.
In the first sentence, use the word in the active voice; in the second sentence, use it in the passive voice.
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